Engineering from A to Z: Opportunities for learning abound at more than 100 exhibits at UW College of Engineering Open House

WHO:Thousands of schoolchildren, their teachers and parents and University of Washington engineering faculty.

WHAT:The College of Engineering Open House, with more than 100 exhibits and activities.

WHEN:Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 am. to 2 p.m.

WHERE:The information booth for the event is at Loew Hall, located on Stevens Way across from the HUB on the UW campus. Activities are at a number of engineering buildings around campus.

PHOTO POSSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

* Students and families manipulating cultures of bioluminescent bacteria to watch the creatures flash.* Launching of water-propelled rockets to learn what causes thrust.* A look at Dawgstar, the smallest known self-propelled satellite, designed by UW students and scheduled for launch from the Space Shuttle in 2002.* Photo morphing with computerized special effects.* Shared Space, a computer technology that merges virtual reality with the real world.* Rainmaker Two, a student-built robot that placed 28th in national competition with nearly 300 other robots (Friday only).* Lego Robotics: See Legos that drive, walk, see and almost talk (Friday only).